The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine reaffirmed on January 18, 2009 its position on the so-called “ceasefire,” stating that the PFLP regards with the utmost respect the decision of our brothers and sisters in the resistance of declaring a one-week ceasefire with the enemy. As we share in the declaration of victory with all of our people today, we want to reaffirm our rejection of any ceasefire and the politics of the so-called “calm”.

We have continually opposed the politics of “calm,” because it presents an opportunity and yet another false justification for Israel to attack our people and increases the pressure on the resistance from all of the forces in the enemy camp – not only Israel’s military assaults, but also the political pressure and attacks from Arab regimes, the European Union, the United States and the so-called “Quartet.” The politics of “calm” becomes a trap for the resistance that we should always seek to avoid, since occupation itself is an act of aggression. Our people have the right to resist, as an occupied people, and while the resistance can make tactical decisions about how to wage that struggle, we can never allow that decision and determination to become a weapon in the hands of our enemies.

Elements of the enemy ground forces remain in Gaza and the siege has not been ended, nor have the crossings, particularly Rafah crossing, been opened. The enemy did not declare the end of its naval siege and their air force continues to invade our skies, in an attempt to create fear and terror among our people who have given over 1300 martyrs in the past 3 weeks, as well as over 5000 wounded, amid the destruction of over 4000 homes, entire neighborhoods, and much of our civil infrastructure in Gaza. The borders have not been opened, and at all crossings, particularly the Rafah crossing, goods intended for our people are waiting for safe and secure passage.

The enemy is trying to achieve by political means what it could not achieve by military means. It failed, despite its scorched-earth tactics and its massacres of our people, to eliminate our resistance or crush the steadfastness of our people. Now, it is trying to cover its failure with the Livni-Rice agreement with the United States – an agreement that is not worth the paper it is written on. The PFLP is making clear with this position that our people and our resistance will not give up our rights or our arms, and that, in fact, this latest aggression is only going to strengthen our determination to build our resistance and the capabilities of our forces.

In addition, the summit of Sharm el-Sheikh between the Europeans and some Arab regimes represents a threat to the entire Arab world and is a symbol of an attempt to revive colonialism in the Arab world. “Monitoring” the Egyptian-Palestinian borders only means that there is no sovereignty in the Arab world, neither in Egypt nor in Gaza, and that these colonial powers and their forces are returning to our region. Sovereignty is a critical question and differentiates a free people and nation from one that is under the boots of colonialism and occupation. The use of the term “smuggling of weapons” is yet another method of turning our national cause into a “security question” and is an attempt to make the weapons of the resistance of our occupied people illegitimate. The right of a people under occupation to resist through all means, including armed struggle, is fundamental and inviolable, and we will not allow our rights to be liquidated under the slogan of “security” or “stability.”

The PFLP has engaged in the battlefield with our brothers and sisters in all organizations of the resistance from the beginning of the aggression on December 27, 2008. We have shared in this battlefield and we continue to share the bread and bullets in order to fight our common vicious Zionist enemy and those who back our enemy. The PFLP was the first to launch a missile against the enemy forces in this aggression and we will be on the front lines chasing the enemy as it retreats from the last centimeter of the Gaza Strip.

Glory to the martyrs! Victory to resistance! Long live the Palestinian people and the Arab nation! Long live international struggle and solidarity!